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==Synopsis==
==Synopsis==
{{spoiler}}
{{spoiler}}
Richie Goodman ([[David Spade|Spade]]), Gus Matthews ([[Rob Schneider|Schneider]]) and Clark Reedy ([[Jon Heder|Heder]]) are three grown men and neighborhood friends. Clark and Richie were also the unpopular kids who were constantly bullied by [[Jock (subculture)|jocks]] and always sat out at the [[Little League|little league]] [[baseball]] games, rarely picked for their less-than-stellar athletic abilities and Clark's mental problems (hence the title). When a nerdy boy named Nelson and his friends are kicked off a nearby diamond by a team of [[bully|bullies]], Gus and Clark chase them away. When they return with Richie to play again and get the feel for the game back, the bullies return, demanding that they leave. Gus challenges the team to play them for the field, and the three friends win. Later, Nelson's father Mel ([[Jon Lovitz]]), a billionaire nerd sympathizer, tells them he's impressed with their win, and explains his plan to hold a [[round-robin tournament|round-robin]] with all the little league teams in the county, plus their team, the Benchwarmers, and the losers will be given access to a new multi-million [[baseball park]] he's built. Wanting to capture the spirit and fun they never got to have when they were kids, the three decide to form the Benchwarmers and join the tournament. Now, they're ready to compete with all the other teams, despite the fact that they're three adults squaring off against kids.
Richie Goodman ([[David Spade|Spade]]), Gus Matthews ([[Rob Schneider|Schneider]]) and Clark Reedy ([[Jon Heder|Heder]]) are three grown men and neighborhood friends. Clark and Richie were also the unpopular kids who were constantly bullied by [[Jock (subculture)|jocks]] and always sat out at the [[Little League|little league]] [[baseball]] games, rarely picked for their less-than-stellar athletic abilities and Clark's mental problems (hence the title). When a nerdy boy named Nelson and his friends are kicked off a nearby diamond by a team of [[bully|bullies]], Gus and Clark chase them away. When they return with Richie to play again and get the feel for the game back, the bullies return, demanding that they leave. Gus challenges the team to play them for the field, and the three friends win. Later, Nelson's father Mel ([[Jon Lovitz]]), a billionaire nerd sympathizer, tells them he's impressed with their win, and explains his plan to hold a [[round-robin tournament|round-robin]] with all the little league teams in the county, plus their team, the Benchwarmers, and the winners will be given access to a new multi-million [[baseball park]] he's built. Wanting to capture the spirit and fun they never got to have when they were kids, the three decide to form the Benchwarmers and join the tournament. Now, they're ready to compete with all the other teams, despite the fact that they're three adults squaring off against kids.


Near the end of the story, Gus is exposed for being a brutal bully as a child, rather than a victim of bullies, like Clark and Richie. He has bullied one child so bad as a kid that the kid had to be sent to an [[mental institution|institution]] (Marcus Ellwood, a nerdy dwarf). With his wife's help, Gus apologizes to Marcus, who becomes the Benchwarmers' third-base coach. At the end of the story, Gus, Clark, and Richie do not play, and rather, let a team of Nelson and other nerdy kids play in the final game, to give them a chance as well. The final game is played against a jock coach (Jerry) who practically torments his team players. In the bottom of the 6th inning, the Benchwarmers are losing, 42-0, when Jerry's team throws Nelson (on the Benchwarmers) a "fat" pitch down the middle. When he hits the ball, Jerry's team lets him score a run while Jerry goes crazy. In the end, all of the kids, as well as Gus, Richie, Clark, and Marcus, have fun.
Near the end of the story, Gus is exposed for being a brutal bully as a child, rather than a victim of bullies, like Clark and Richie. He has bullied one child so bad as a kid that the kid had to be sent to an [[mental institution|institution]] (Marcus Ellwood, a nerdy dwarf). With his wife's help, Gus apologizes to Marcus, who becomes the Benchwarmers' third-base coach. At the end of the story, Gus, Clark, and Richie do not play, and rather, let a team of Nelson and other nerdy kids play in the final game, to give them a chance as well. The final game is played against a jock coach (Jerry) who practically torments his team players. In the bottom of the 6th inning, the Benchwarmers are losing, 42-0, when Jerry's team throws Nelson (on the Benchwarmers) a "fat" pitch down the middle. When he hits the ball, Jerry's team lets him score a run while Jerry goes crazy. In the end, all of the kids, as well as Gus, Richie, Clark, and Marcus, have fun.

Revision as of 20:28, 15 October 2006

The Benchwarmers
The Benchwarmers film poster
Directed byDennis Dugan
Produced byAdam Sandler
StarringDavid Spade
Rob Schneider
Jon Heder
Amaury Nolasco
Jon Lovitz
CinematographyThomas Ackerman
Edited byPeck Prior
Sandy Solowitz
Distributed bySony Pictures Entertainment
Release dates
April 7, 2006 (USA)
Running time
85 minutes
LanguageEnglish

The Benchwarmers is a 2006 comedy film that was released on April 7, 2006. It stars David Spade, Rob Schneider and Jon Heder and is directed by Dennis Dugan. It is produced by Happy Madison Productions and distributed by Sony Pictures.

  • Tagline: It's never too late to take a stand.

Synopsis

Template:Spoiler Richie Goodman (Spade), Gus Matthews (Schneider) and Clark Reedy (Heder) are three grown men and neighborhood friends. Clark and Richie were also the unpopular kids who were constantly bullied by jocks and always sat out at the little league baseball games, rarely picked for their less-than-stellar athletic abilities and Clark's mental problems (hence the title). When a nerdy boy named Nelson and his friends are kicked off a nearby diamond by a team of bullies, Gus and Clark chase them away. When they return with Richie to play again and get the feel for the game back, the bullies return, demanding that they leave. Gus challenges the team to play them for the field, and the three friends win. Later, Nelson's father Mel (Jon Lovitz), a billionaire nerd sympathizer, tells them he's impressed with their win, and explains his plan to hold a round-robin with all the little league teams in the county, plus their team, the Benchwarmers, and the winners will be given access to a new multi-million baseball park he's built. Wanting to capture the spirit and fun they never got to have when they were kids, the three decide to form the Benchwarmers and join the tournament. Now, they're ready to compete with all the other teams, despite the fact that they're three adults squaring off against kids.

Near the end of the story, Gus is exposed for being a brutal bully as a child, rather than a victim of bullies, like Clark and Richie. He has bullied one child so bad as a kid that the kid had to be sent to an institution (Marcus Ellwood, a nerdy dwarf). With his wife's help, Gus apologizes to Marcus, who becomes the Benchwarmers' third-base coach. At the end of the story, Gus, Clark, and Richie do not play, and rather, let a team of Nelson and other nerdy kids play in the final game, to give them a chance as well. The final game is played against a jock coach (Jerry) who practically torments his team players. In the bottom of the 6th inning, the Benchwarmers are losing, 42-0, when Jerry's team throws Nelson (on the Benchwarmers) a "fat" pitch down the middle. When he hits the ball, Jerry's team lets him score a run while Jerry goes crazy. In the end, all of the kids, as well as Gus, Richie, Clark, and Marcus, have fun.

Also in the movie for a few scenes is Reggie Jackson of the New York Yankees, who plays himself, yet as Mel's childhood friend, who helps the Benchwarmers train.

Music


Trivia

  • This is Adam Sandler's twelfth film as a producer, with friend and frequent co-star Rob Schneider following The Waterboy, Big Daddy, Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo, Little Nicky, The Animal, Mr. Deeds, Eight Crazy Nights, The Hot Chick, The Longest Yard, 50 First Dates, Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo and 2006's Grandma's Boy. This is also Sandler's sixth production with other friend David Spade, following Joe Dirt, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, Grandma's Boy and an Untitled David Spade Christmas Comedy.
  • The film was heavily promoted by MLB.com.
  • The film also contained heavy references to Sony through its highly advertised products throughout (i.e. Sony VAIO laptops and computers, Sony Cybershot camcorders, Sony Playstation 2, etc.)
  • Rob Schneider will play a landscaper again in his next film The Last Guy on Earth.
  • David Spade played a video store clerk in the film Loser.
  • Adam Sandler's wife Jackie and his nephew Jared are in the movie.
  • Sandler was going to play the role of "Marcus" but turned it down because the original actor "did a better job".
  • ESPN Sportscaster Dan Patrick makes a cameo appearance in the movie, seen playing poker.
  • The movie is filled with Star Wars memorobilia.
  • Mel has the Knight Rider and original Batmobile cars. He also has a Toyota NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Racing Truck. In the scene where he is driving the Toyota, Mel yells "Boogity, Boogity, Boogity, Let's Go Racing!" which is an obvious reference to former NASCAR Driver and current FOX Sports Commentator Darrell Waltrip's catch phrase at the start of each race. Waltrip is also affiliated Toyota in that he helped them with their NASCAR Truck Racing Program and does televison commercials for Toyota.
  • Mel's house is the 501st on its street, a reference to the 501st Legion, a Star Wars Clone Trooper Unit.
  • The line "If you build it, nerds will come," is a reference to Field Of Dreams.
  • The construction workers running into the clearing to build the ballpark is a reference to Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
  • The mock Philip Glass music and time-lapse filming during the actual construction of the ballpark is a strangely out-of-place reference to Koyaanisqatsi.
  • In the outtakes shown during the credits Jon Lovitz's line "...And I'm reaping all the benefits" is a reference to Lovitz's character in The Wedding Singer.
  • In the DVD Commentary with David Spade and Jon Heder, in the scene with Clark eating the squished beetle, Jon explains it was actually a piece of trail mix.
  • The Character Marcus Ellwood is based on a real person Mark Ellwood from Queensland, Australia. Although the original character does not portray the dork scene, his persona is reflected through the movie.
  • Four former Saturday Night Live actors star in the film (Rob Schneider, Tim Meadows, David Spade and Jon Lovitz.) The producer (Adam Sandler) also was on Saturday Night Live.
  • When Richie tells one of the jocks to "Suck It" he is referncing professional wrestling faction D-Generation X.

Allusions

Box Office

In its opening weekend, the film grossed a total of $20.5 million, ranking a strong second in the United States box office.

As of June 7, 2006, the film has grossed over 57 million dollars in the United States box office.

See also

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